American Red Cross urges blood donations after Sandy

Oct. 30, 2012

Bruce Vollman, of Bethlehem, sits on a cot at the Red Cross Shelter on City Line Road on Tuesday in Bethlehem, Pa., after losing power in his home, due to superstorm Sandy. / Matt Smith / Associated Press / The Express-Times

BINGHAMTON — Superstorm Sandy forced the cancellation of more than 200 American Red Cross blood drives, resulting in a shortfall of more than 7,000 donations in the Northeast and about 9,000 in 14 states along the East Coast.

More cancellations and additional losses of blood donations are expected while areas deal with the storm’s aftermath. Now that the storm has passed, the Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood or platelets as soon as possible.

“Sandy has affected blood collections along the East Coast,” stated Donna M. Morrissey, director of communications of the American Red Cross Northeast Division. “Now that our operations are up and running again, we encourage the community to come forward and help replenish the blood supply.”

All blood types are needed to ensure an adequate blood supply is available during a disaster, especially type O positive, O negative, A negative or B negative blood. Blood has a limited shelf-life and platelets have a shelf-life of five days.

Nationwide around 44,000 blood donations are needed each day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, and children with blood disorders, these patients rely on blood products during their treatment and after a disaster.

Call 1 (800) RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification, are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.